Electrical induction apparatus



H H JanTS, 1943. I G R. MONROE Q 2,307,599

ELECTRICAL INDUCTION APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: 5 INVENTOR Gardarz P. Mon/0a.

ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. G. R. MO ROE 2,307,599

ELECTRICAL. INDUCTION APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR W, Gordan RMonroe. W may ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 5, 1943 I C E ELECTRICAL INDUCTION APPARATUS Gordon R. Monroe, Sharon, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 8, 1940, Serial No. 333,976

7 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical induction apparatus such as air cooled, air insulated transformers.

In such transformers air is permitted to circulate upwardly between inner and outer cylindrical windings positioned about the winding leg of the core, and between the core winding leg and the inner winding to form .a cooling and insulating medium in the spaces there provided. It is customary to provide some arrangement of the casing or tank structure in which such electrical apparatus is housed that permits the ready ingress of the air into the lower part of the casing, and egress of the heated air from the upper part of the casing, so that circulating the air may be readily accomplished by thermal action of the apparatus. In casings housing apparatus of the character herein described, louvers may be provided adjacent the bottom and top of the case to permit air to be introduced into the tank at the bottom and to flow outwardly from the tank at the top.

In certain applications of such electrical apparatus, it is desirable to place it in vaults or manholes which may become filled or partially filled with water. It is necessary, in such cases, to provide means for preventing such water from coming in contact with the apparatus windings.

It is an object of the invention to provide an air cooled air insulated electrical induction apparatus enclosed in a siutable casing in Which provision is made for circulating air through the casing from the surrounding atmosphere, and in which means is provided for .automatically sealing the apparatus within the casing from the surrounding atmosphere upon the rising of water about the casing to .a predeternnned elevation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan View of apparatus organized in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a tank or casing l is provided enclosing electrical apparatus comprising a core structure 2, high and low voltage windims 3 and 4, respectively, and an end frame and supporting structure 5 for maintaining the core and coils in the desired assembled relation.

A conduit 6 is provided extending from adjacent the hottom of the casing l upwardly along the side thereof to provide an air intake passage, the conduit terminating in an orifice 1 shown as above the level of the top ii of the tank and provided with a door or closure 9 shown in i s open position to permit the free circulation of air from the atmosphere surrounding the casing through the air intake passage into the casing I adjacent the bottom thereof. An outlet conduit is shown extending slightly above the elevation of the top 8 of the tank and provided with an orifice l-l above which is positioned a door or closure l2 illustrated in its open position to permit free egress of air from within the casing I to the atmosphere above the casing. The doors 9 and 1.2 are shown provided with stems I3 and 14, respectively, extending downwardly therefrom and provided with gearing mechanism for permitting them to be readily actuated by electric motors l5 and 15, respectively, for operation to close the space within the tank from the outside air so as to provide a completely sealed tank that may be submersible in water without damage to the apparatus contained within the tank or casing I. For the purpose of operating the motors l5 and IS, a float l! is provided for actuating contact mechanism within a chamber 18 shown adjacent the intake conduit 5 for controlling the supply of electric energy from a source represented by conductors 2i and '222 through contact members 23, 24 and 25 within the chamber [8.

If water flows into the vault or manhole in which the apparatus is mounted and rises to an elevation suificient to raise the float i? above its normal position, a circuit will be closed between contact members 23 and 2 for controlling the supply of power to the motors l5 and 15 for operating them in a direction to close the valve or door devices 9 and !2. respectively, to completely seal the space within the casing from the outside atmosphere. The float i! should be positioned at an elevation suiiiciently near the top of the casing I, so that when the casing is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere, there will be a sufficient quantity of water in contact with the surface of the casing to aid substantially in cooling the air within the casing. Air will continue to circulate by thermal action upwardly between the core windings and downwardly along the wall of the casing. As the water recedes and the elevation of the water surface drops sufiiciently, the float I! will be lowered and cause engagement of the contact members 23 and to operate motors l5 and IS in a reverse direction, to again move the closure devices 9 and i2 upwardly to their illustrated positions to again permit the free ingress and egress of air from the surrounding atmosphere through the casing.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a modified system for controlling the operation of the closure devices 9 and I2 is illustrated. The closure devices 9 and I2 are provided with stems 32 and respectively, which extend downwardly and are shown connected to biasing springs 34 and 35,

respectively, for urging them downwardly toward their closed positions. The stems 32 and 33 are provided with latches 36 and 31, respectively, which are illustrated as being held in their upper or open positions by pins 38 and 39 that are controlled by electromagnets 4| and 42, respectively.

If water about the casing l rises to an elevation to move the float ll upwardly, a slight disstance from its normal position, the float will cause engagement of contact members 43 and 44 for closing a circuit from the source 2l-22 through the operating windings of the electromagnets M and 42 for actuating the pins 38 and. 39 out of en agement with the latches 36 and 31, res ectively. thus permitting the closure devices 9 and IE to be actuated downwardly by springs 34 and 35 to seal the casing from the outside atmosphere. In. the structure shown in Fig. 3. the closure devices 9 and I 2 must be moved to their upper or open positions manually as no means is provided for automatically doing this. With the construction shown in Fi 3. it is deing air from adjacent the upper part of the winding structure, and means responsive to a predetermined liquid level about the casing for automatically operating said closure means for sealing the casing from the surrounding atmosphere.

4. In electrical induction apparatus having a winding structure and a casing enclosing the winding structure, said casing being provided with air intake and air outlet passages for efiecting communication between the interior and the exterior of the casing for the circulation of air by thermal action of the apparatus into and out of the casing as a cooling and insulating medium, the ends of said passages remote from the casing being at a level above the top of the casing structure, and means responsive to a predetermined liquid level about the casing for automatically operating said closure means for sealing the casin from the surrounding atmos sirable to provide an alarm device for warning the operator that the vents are closed. and that it is necessary to manually o en them. Such a device 45 is illustrated in Fig. 3. When the Water recedes and the float I! drops. a circuit is clos d through contact members 44 and 46 to operate the alarm device I45.

Many modifications may be made in the circuits and apparatus illustrated and described within the spirit of my invention. and I do not wish to be limited otherwise than by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In electrical induction ap aratus having a winding structure and a casing enclosing the windin structure. said casing being provided.

with air intake and air outlet passa es for efiectin comm nication between the interior and the exterior of the c sing for the circulation of air into and out of the casing as a coolin and insulating medium. closure means for controllin the flow of air throu h said passages. and means responsive to a predetermined liquid level about the ca g f r automaticall operat ng said closure means for sealing the casing from the sur- 1 lating medium. closure means for controlling the flo of air throu h said passages. and float controlled el ctr callv res onsive means operable a up n the rise of licu d outside of the cas ng to a p de erm ned el vation for automaticall nnerating said c osure means for sealing the casin from the surrounding atmosphere.

3. In electrical induction ap aratus having a winding structure and a casing enclosing the windin structure. said casing being rovided with air intake and air outlet passa es for effecting communication between the interior and the exterior of the casing for the circulation of air into and out of the casin as a cooling and insulating medium. said inlet passage being arranged for leading air from an elevation above the casing and discharging it into the casing adjacent the lower part of the winding structure. said outlet passage being arranged for dischargphere.

5. In electrical induction apparatus having a winding structure and a casing enclosing the winding structure. said casing being provided with air intake and air outlet passages for effecting communication between the interior and the exterior of the casing for the circulation of air by thermal action of the apparatus into and out of the casing as a cooling and insulating medium, the ends of said passages remote from the casing being at a level above the top of the casing structure, said inlet passage being arranged for leading air into the casing adjacent the lower part of the winding structure, and said outlet passage being arranged for discharging air from adjacent the upper part of the winding structure. and means responsive to a predetermined liquid level about the casing for automatically operating said closure means for sealing the casing from the surrounding atmosphere.

6. In electrical induction apparatus having a winding structure and a casing enclosing the winding structure, said casing being provided with air intake and air outlet passages for eflecting communication between the interior and the exterior of the casing for the circulation of air into and out of the casing as a cooling and insulating medium, closure means for controlling the flow of air through said passages and float controlled electrically responsive means operable upon the rise of liquid outside of the casing to a predetermined elevation for automatically operating said closure mean for sealing the casing from the surrounding atmosphere, and operable upon the fall of the liquid level to a predetermined elevation for operating said closure means to open the passages for permitting the circulation of air through the apparatus.

7. In electrical induction apparatus havin a winding structure and a casing enclosing the winding structure, said casing being provided with air intake and air outlet passages for effecting communication between the interior and the exterior of the casing for the circulation of air into and out of the casing as a cooling and insulating medium. closure means for controlling the flow of air through said passages, means responsive to a predetermined liquid level about the casing for automatically operating said closure means for sealing the casing from the surrounding atmosphere, and operable upon the fall of the liquid level to a predetermined elevation for operating said closure means to open the passages for permitting the circulation of air through th apparatus.

GORDON R. MONROE. 

